Viva Sunrise

It's hard to miss the distinctive pink-on-pink facade of the Viva Sunrise and the huge pair of polished steel pillars that mark its entrance. Stepping inside, the color scheme is toned down to a little more tasteful, with muted creams and off-whites, and there's plenty of greenery provided by various potted plants. Built in 1989, the four-story, L-shaped complex encloses the grounds, an activity-filled area with a large freeform swimming pool and sun terrace surrounded by palm trees. The vibe is relaxed and friendly, with facilities and accommodation geared heavily toward families with kids -- all-inclusive and self-catering options, plus plenty of child-friendly distractions -- with the majority of these hailing from the UK (and Scandinavians making up the remainder). 

The Viva Sunrise overlooks a series of waterways that characterize this laid-back, hotel-oriented zone located toward the south end of the popular resort of Port d'Alcudia on Majorca's northeast coast. While it's almost a five-minute drive from the buzzing resort center, there's no shortage of bars and restaurants within easy walking distance, including the nightlife of "Dollar Street" (the nickname for Pere Mas i Reus) just a couple blocks away. The start of the resort's long stretch of sandy beach, which has calm and shallow water, is also a 10-minute walk. Family-friendly fun can be also be had at the nearby Hidropark water park, a 15-minute walk or five-minute drive. Farther afield is the pretty town of Alcudia, a 12-minute drive. Situated at the opposite end of the island, the capital of Palma and the Palma de Mallorca Airport are up to an hour away by car. 

The complex has 260 studio and one- and two-bedrooms apartments, sleeping from two to six guests. All are decorated with a bright and breezy combination of simple white furniture, parquet-effect flooring, and enough updated touches to feel modern. Balconies or terraces come as standard, and there's an even split between those with pool and street/canal views; upgraded "Royal" apartments open to spacious terraces with sun loungers and whirlpool tubs. While street-facing rooms tend to be quiet, those overlooking pool are prone to noise from entertainment.

Except for one-room studios with seating areas, apartments have separate living spaces with dining areas, sofa beds, and kitchenettes with microwaves, fridges, two-burner electric cooktops, toasters, and kettles. All units have 32-inch flat-screen TVs with a decent selection of UK-based channels, and in-room Wi-Fi is free of charge, generally with a strong signal throughout. Digital safes are available for a fee. Bathrooms are spacious and clean, with roomy walk-in rainfall showers with removable showerheads, wall-mounted hairdryers, and chain-brand toiletries; bathrobes come as an upgraded perk. 

While the Viva Sunrise doesn't offer as much in the way of facilities as other properties of its kind, what it does have, it does well. The hotel's main swimming pool, for example, is huge by most standards, with two sections of differing depths, and it's surrounded by a sun terrace with an abundance of loungers. With no neighboring beach, however, this area can fill up and feel crowded at peak season. There's also a separate baby splash pool, plus a very popular pirate-themed kids' pool with multiple waterslides. Children from four to 11 have free access to two mini-clubs and a circus workshop where they can learn juggling and balancing acts, plus there are two play areas -- one for younger and another for older children. Other than the modest gym and massage tent, there's very little in the way of adult-oriented fitness or spa facilities, but there's an animation program that includes archery, table tennis, and aquarobics.

Refurbished in 2016, the hotel's Caprice Restaurant is a bright and contemporary dining space that offers breakfast and dinner buffets. The food also has had an upgrade, with a good variety of well-prepared dishes, vegetarian and healthy options, and themed nights. Breakfast costs extra, though all-inclusive and other plans are available. For lunch, a poolside bar offers light meals and snacks, and El Patio has an a la carte menu for dinner featuring tapas and local cooking, plus a kids' menu with the usual favorites. Nightly entertainment on the outdoor stage ranges from live music and dancing to magic shows. The hotel also has an on-site supermarket, and cyclists have use of a bike center with secure storage, tool station, and wash area.